had been pushed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been pushed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that an action was completed in the past before another past action, often in a passive voice context. Example: "The project deadline had been pushed back due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Or had been pushed.

The New York Times - Magazine

"He had been pushed really hard".

The New York Times

Soldat, for example, had been pushed harder.

The New York Times - Sports

Old enemies had been pushed back for a time.

Harvard University

Some curators had been pushed out; others had resigned.

The New York Times - Arts

By late January ,2015, ISIS had been pushed back.

The New Yorker

The previous chief executive, Eckhard Pfeiffer, had been pushed out.

The New York Times

Until yesterday, hardly a star had been pushed.

The New York Times - Sports

One of her mismatched poles had been pushed over.

The New Yorker

Alderson said Monday that Santana's second rehabilitation start had been pushed from Wednesday to Thursday.

The New York Times

The judges ruled that, because she had been pushed, Scott could advance to the finals.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the passive voice is appropriate. "Had been pushed" is most effective when the actor is unknown or unimportant, or when you want to emphasize the recipient of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "had been pushed" when an active voice construction is more direct and clear. Overuse of the passive voice can make your writing sound weak or vague.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been pushed" functions as a verb phrase in the passive perfect tense. This construction indicates that an action (being pushed) was completed at some point before another action in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been pushed" is a grammatically sound passive perfect construction, used to describe an action completed before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI indicates, it’s a common phrase found across various contexts, especially in news and media, and science. While the phrase is generally neutral in register, it's important to consider the active voice as an alternative for more direct communication. Understanding its function helps writers to employ it correctly, ensuring clarity and precision in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was propelled

Focuses on the action of being driven or forced forward with considerable force.

was shoved

Implies a forceful and sudden movement by someone.

had been pressured

Focuses on the influence or coercion exerted to make someone act.

was urged

Emphasizes the act of being strongly encouraged or advised to do something.

was compelled

Highlights the idea of being forced or obliged to do something.

had been driven

Implies a strong force or motivation behind the movement or action.

was displaced

Suggests being moved from a position or place, often involuntarily.

had been influenced

Suggests being affected or changed by external factors.

had been advanced

Highlights the idea of moving something forward, like a plan or schedule.

had been motivated

Highlights the reason or incentive behind an action.

FAQs

How do I use "had been pushed" in a sentence?

Use "had been pushed" to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. For example, "The deadline "had been pushed back" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "had been pushed"?

Alternatives include "was propelled", "was urged", or "was compelled", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was pushed" instead of "had been pushed"?

While "was pushed" is grammatically correct, it doesn't necessarily indicate that the action happened before another past action. "Had been pushed" clarifies the sequence of events.

How does the meaning change if I use the active voice instead of "had been pushed"?

Using the active voice (e.g., "Someone pushed it") puts the emphasis on the actor. "Had been pushed", being passive, emphasizes the object that was acted upon and potentially de-emphasizes or omits the actor.